The first edition of «Ifquirn – Les Chibanis» is taking place in Gennevilliers, where several community groups are bringing together the elders and giving them a platform to share their stories of labor migration. This is a space for expression and connection, intended as a way to lift the veil of modesty surrounding these narratives, allowing them to be reclaimed and rooted in the present. DR ‹ › For its first edition, the event «Ifquirn – Les Chibanis» aims to bring together former Moroccan workers, their descendants, and a wider audience. Through a series of activities scheduled for the 28th at Espace Saâd Abssi in Gennevilliers, the initiative will focus on memory, migration, and personal journeys. Part of the Almuqar project led by the YanAnga association, the gathering will include a discussion session with first-generation migrants, who will share their experiences, memories, and emotions in their own words. Yassine Iguenfer, a French-Moroccan filmmaker, producer, and member of the organizing team, told Yabiladi that the initiative aims to «highlight our ancestors in various ways». According to him, the chibanis taking part in the discussions range in age «from 60 to 84, with an average age of around 70». «Our ancestors left Morocco to work in France. Many of them are now elderly or have passed away. They also lived through pivotal historical events, such as the Green March, among others. We want to honor their stories», he added. Creating dialogue around the stories of the chibanis The event will also feature an anthropological and sociological contribution aimed at «understanding the challenges of migration, transmission, and intergenerational heritage», with researcher Mohamed Ouchtaine. Filmmaker Mohamed Bouhari will present his documentary May Allah Bless Mora. The film retraces Félix Mora's mission to recruit Moroccan workers for coal mines in the Nord–Pas-de-Calais region, mobilizing around 78,000 men from southern Morocco. «The women left behind express their distress through secret songs known as Timnadin. Hafid, a young musician, travels to remote areas of the Anti-Atlas in search of these songs. The film follows this journey», the organizers explain. Through his production company, 36 Films, Yassine Iguenfer is also involved in organizing the event, bringing «a dual expertise at the intersection of cinema, historical research, and cultural transmission». As the director of The Nours and a producer engaged in projects related to memory, heritage, and Morocco–France trajectories, he advocates for «a sensitive and well-documented approach to diasporic narratives», grounded in archival research and educational cultural initiatives. For the association, the event promises to be «rich in transmission», with the participation of elders from several cities and hopes of welcoming attendees from other regions and neighboring countries, particularly Belgium. Gennevilliers, a site shaped by worker migration The organizers underline the choice of Gennevilliers for this first edition, given its historical significance in Moroccan labor migration. «Place Voltaire bears witness to the history of Amazigh immigration from Souss-Massa, where many ichelehiyn came to settle, work, and build their lives. These memories are still alive (…) These fragments of life tell the story of a diaspora that recreated a part of its world far from home», they note. Yassine Iguenfer also highlighted the support of M'hamed Binakdane, deputy in charge of budgetary policies and public policy evaluation at Gennevilliers city hall, as well as the involvement of several organizations, including the Association of North African Workers in France (ATMF), Espoir du Sud Irsmouken Unis, and Elan de vie. This edition will also feature Aziz Aboudrar as a speaker, better known as the founder of «You Laugh, You Lose». Iguenfer emphasized the importance of «anchoring this space of transmission and living memory in an active dynamic, where we listen to and honor the stories of our elders», with the aim of organizing future editions.
